CINCINNATI -- Mother Nature just isn't cooperating, and the Reds Opening Day game has been postponed to Friday, the team announced Wednesday.
The Reds were scheduled to open their season against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park Thursday afternoon. The game has been postponed to Friday at 4:10 p.m. due to inclement weather. Other festivities scheduled for Thursday have also been moved to the same times on Friday. This marks the first time since 1966 that the franchise has moved its scheduled season opener.
"Tomorrow we were almost guaranteed 100 percent to have a very soggy, unpleasant day that altogether likely we would have grinded through only to not get the game in," Reds President and Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini said.
He said no fewer than five meteorology teams and the league in New York were all in agreement over Thursday's forecast, noting "everybody quadruple-checked this thing five ways to Sunday."
"We don't take this lightly. We have checked all the appropriate boxes with the league and our partners and sponsors and all our employees that work our game days," Castellini said, noting they've been closely monitoring weather predictions for about 10 days.
Watch Castellini's full news conference in the video player below.
The Reds Community Fund Charity Block Party will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday on Joe Nuxhall Way, Freedom Way and Walnut Street. The ballpark gates will open at 2:10 p.m. and pregame ceremonies will start at 3:30 p.m.
Fans with tickets to the Thursday game will be able to use their same tickets for the rescheduled Friday game, according to the announcement. Ticket holders who cannot attend Friday's game may be able to exchange their tickets for another game at reds.com/rainout or at ballpark ticket windows.
The Opening Day Parade is still scheduled for Monday.
